Noteworthy Micronesian Plants 5

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Noteworthy Micronesian Plants. 5 1 • F.

R.

FOSBERG AND MARIE-HELENE SACHET

Department of Botany, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. 20560

Abstract-Precursory taxonomic and nomenclatural notes to the check-list of Micronesian monocotyledons and to certain parts of the Flora of Micronesia, containing studies of Micronesian species of Crinum (Liliaceae: Amaryllidae)-Crinum asiaticum var. pedunculatum new combination; Dianella (Liliaceae)-Dianella saffordiana new species; Dioscorea (Dioscoreaceae)-Dioscorea esculenta var. tiliaefolia new combination; Curcuma (Zingiberaceae); Didymoplexis (Orchidaceae); Liparis (Orchidaceae)-Liparis yamadae new combination; Habenaria (Orchidaceae)-Habenaria setifera new combination; Malaxis (Orchidaceae)-Malaxis calcarea, M. kerstingiana, M. trukensis, M. volkensii, new combinations; Nervilia (Orchidaceae); Spathoglottis (Orchidaceae); Rhynchophreatia (Orchidaceae)-Rhynchophreatia pacifica, R. carolinensis, new combinations; Taeniophyllum (Orchidaceae); and Trachoma (Orchidaceae) . Preliminary keys to the Micronesian species of several of these genera are provided, and specimens are cited.

The fifth paper of this series contains taxonomic and nomenclatural studies of Crinum and Dianella (Liliaceae, sensu latissimo), Dioscorea (Dioscoreaceae), Curcuma (Zingiberaceae), and Didymoplexis, Liparis, Habenaria Malaxis, Nervilia, Spathoglottis, Taeniophyllum and Trachoma (all Orchidaceae), with a new species in Dianella, and new nomenclatural combinations in Crinum, Habenaria, Liparis, Malaxis. These studies are preliminary to the third part, Monocotyledonae, of our Geographical Checklist of Micronesian vascular plants (Fosberg, Sachet and Oliver 1979, 1982). A NEW COMBINATION IN CRINUM (LILIACEAE S.L. INCL. AMARYLLIDACEAE)

Crinum asiaticum var. pedunculatum (R. Br.) Fosberg and Sachet, n. comb. Crinum pedunculatum R. Br., Prodr. 297, 1810. Brown's C. pedunculatum, from his brief description, differs from C. asiaticum L. mainly in having the pedicels longer than the ovaries. Some Micronesian collections show this feature, but it is an extremely variable character and certainly warrants no more than varietal distinction. It is probable that most or all of the large Crinums of this relationship are only cultivated derivations of the small (ca 0.5 m tall) white-flowered wild coastal plant of eastern Asia and neighboring islands. We are for the time-being accepting forms with anthers 2.5-3.5 em long before dehiscence as specifically distinct. Such are Crinum bakeri 1

1980.

Previous papers in this series appeared in Micronesica 11 : 77-80,81-84, 1975; 16: 189-200,201-210,


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